*Disclaimer*: I promise the day I own Inuyasha is the day I will shout it from the rooftops; so that day, trust me you'll know it. That day will never come for me so, make me happy and review my stories.

A/N: There will be unexpected pairings appearing in the story. Reviews make me so happy… and when I'm happy the pairings become exactly how you want them to be… so 5 reviews… or at least 2 weeks? If you review and leave your email address I will email you one of the sweetest Miroku/Sango fics out there… that I have found. There is fluff coming up in the next chapter and the one after that. But I need reviews! The more reviews… the better the fluff! Also, some angst is coming up…

Chapter 5~ A Devil's Bargain

Sango's jaw dropped in surprise as her mind went over what she had just heard him ask. He wants me to stay? I can't houshi-sama need me, Kagome-san needs me, Inuyasha needs me… well not really, but Shippo needs me also.

"Sango-san?" Hojo asked cupping her face. "So, what do you think? Will you stay?"

Sango saw a glow on Hojo's necklace, but she concentrated instead on his questions. It felt so wrong being here… but yet it felt so right. Yet, she hadn't even asked Hojo how everyone had died, she didn't seem to want to. It didn't seem to matter; except it did and that really bothered her. Why when she was around him that her friends' lives didn't seem to matter? She had just met Hojo, but yet she felt she would risk her life for him. Why? Maybe Kagome-san was right… maybe when love hit you it was in the blink of and eye. But this couldn't be love; she had a greater chance of falling for houshi-sama.

"Sango-san?" Hojo asked uncertainly looking into her eyes.

Sango bit her lip nervously. She had to figure out what was happening here. She had to. Looking up into Hojo's eye's she answered in a gentle whisper, "yes, I will stay."

A grin spread across Hojo's face before he leaned in and gave Sango a kiss.

Marjani stood there behind a tree watching the whole situation unfold. After hearing Sango's answer she shook her head and muttered, "you stupid fool."

Hojo traced his pointer finger along Sango's face and she just sat there. This all felt so right. So why do I have an ominous feeling about all of this? Pulling away from Hojo Sango grasped Hojo's hands. "Can I ask you a question Hojo?" she asked.

"Un" he retorted swiftly.

"What happened to houshi-sama? How, how did he die?" she asked tears in her eyes threatening to spill over at any minute.

*****

Miroku hurried to Kaede's village then didn't stop until he reached her hut. "Kaede-san, have you seen Sango-san at all today? If you have did she tell you where she was going or what she was planning on doing?" he asked not once taking a breath.

"Houshi-sama, slow down" Kaede said with a laugh before becoming serious once again. "No, I have not seen Sango-san and I have no clue where she is or what she either is or will be doing. I'm terribly sorry houshi. Is there anything else I can help you with? Oh houshi-sama, don't look so sad, I'm sure she just sad or angry and will be back before long. Don't fret over the small things when you have so much more to be worrying about. Look, maybe she's at Kagome's residence. Go look there, and remember have fun and never forget to smile. That way when you look back at this time you will smile again. Honto, she's probably just avoiding you. People get angry sometimes or even lonely, Shikata ga nai. You should not dwell on it."

Miroku gave her a skeptical look before thanking her and telling her that she wasn't at Kagome's house. "So, do you think you could do something to help me find her? Could you offer some tasukete kure?" he asked with a very buoyant expression in his eyes.

"There might be something I could do, but I'm not 100% positive if it would work to your likings." Kaede informed the monk.

"Anything would be of-" Miroku started before being interrupted.

"We should have just checked here in the first place!" Kagome yelled. "It's only rational!"

"What? Do you not understand Japanese you baka? Because that is what I suggested in the first place!" Inuyasha roared at her.

"Whatever! Let's just find houshi-sama." Kagome trailed off stomping into Kaede's hut.

"Hello Kagome-chan. It's so nice to see you again. Looking for either Sango-san or houshi-sama I presume?" Kaede asked already knowing her answer.

"Well actually I'm looking for both of them, why have you seen either of them?" Kagome asked attempting to catch her breath. Kaede pointed towards a sitting Miroku and Kagome sat down beside him. "Obviously you haven't found Sango-san yet, or we wouldn't be sitting here."

"Where should we check then?" Miroku asked.

"If I may interject for a minute, as I was saying to houshi-sama only a few moments before I think I may have a quicker way of finder Sango then with Inuyasha's nose."

"Really?" Kagome asked flabbergasted. Kaede nodded and got up to do something.

*****

"Houshi-sama?" Joho asked, insolence could be heard in his voice as he spat out the name. "That purayboy! He cared for nothing except himself and his hentai ways." Hojo sat there clutching his cheek in pain from Sango's astoundingly stinging slap.

"Don't you dare! Un, Houshi-sama may have sometimes been a hentai, demo he did care about other things! He cared about defeating Naraku! He cared about our safety! He cared about me." Sango finished in a hurtful whisper running away from Hojo.

Marjani stood there behind the tree smiling. "Yes, Sango, remember Miroku, sweet sexy Miroku." she whispered catching Hojo's attention.

"I bet your happy Marjani! Why can't you just butt out of my life! I can make everything better if you would just let me; you just need to butt out!" he yelled waling towards the tree and the strange girl.

"No you can't! You can't make anything right at all… life will never be the same again. Don't you think if I could go back I would change it all? But I won't because all actions have consequences. You have no clue how this will affect it. So what life didn't turn out the way we wanted it to! Life never turns out the precise way we want it to, Shikata ga nai, it's just the way things are." Marjani finished sliding down to the ground weeping uncontrollably.

Hojo gave one last painful and sad look at Marjani and continued after Sango.

Sango sat down near a fire in the closet village it was getting late. She turned around rapidly her hunter instincts taking over. Hojo handed her Hiraikotsu her st down next to her. The villagers had went into their huts to give her her privacy so now Sango shifted uncomfortably at the thought of being alone with some stranger who might have possibly did something to her friends.

"Sango-san, I know that what you want is the truth. I didn't want to tell you the truth because the truth hurts. But, now I suppose I have to. I was really hoping I could take the truth to my grave. But, Sango sweetie, if you want the truth, then here it is. This is what really happened, why I really brought you back to my time…"

A/N: Heh, hate being left in suspense? Then review my story and I will update. You never know. If I get at least 5 then I will update either the next day or the day after that. If not you'll have to wait at least 2 weeks for the next chapter. So review please. I don't care if it's a flamer or not.

*Dictionary*:

Honto: really

Purayboy: playboy

Tasukete Kure: help if you please

Un: informal term for yes